An American mum has shared her surprise at what children are given for lunch in Italy and people have a lot of thoughts!
Clara Hogan who posts on TikTok as ‘Clara in Italy’ has two children, one in preschool and one in primary school.
She starts off by saying that as an American the lunch options come as a surprise to her because of the variety and she says she is grateful that her children eat so well every day.
Clara talks through an entire week’s menu which features varied dishes including pasta, fruit, meat, fish, eggs and vegetables.
The clip which has been viewed over 3 million times received a major reaction with parents asking questions and sharing their thoughts.
She says ‘as an American coming into the public school system I’m super happy with the quality of food my kids are getting every day’.
Mum’s shock after seeing what kids eat for school lunch in Italy
She says that Italian parents local to the area aren’t always happy with the food and wish it was better to which Clara acknowledges ‘they have high standards’.
Mum to two daughters Clara says that in Italy every child eats the lunch provided and it is a rarity that anyone brings in a packed lunch.
She also says that lunch is a very relaxed affair and kids are encouraged to take their time eating and hang out with their friends.
“Kids here get a full hour to eat every day and have multiple courses. Lunch is seen as a moment to take a pause, relax and enjoy your food rather than something to rush through’.
Clara and her family originally decided to move to Bologna while her husband completed an MBA at the University of Bologna but she says having lived there she would choose the location ‘again without hesitation’.
She says it’s a fantastic city for raising kids… ‘it’s walkable, schools are high quality, kids are out and about everywhere, and the pace of life is manageable. You don’t need to plan every outing or get in a car to do basic things’.
This isn’t the first time an American mum has taken to social media to show what life is like living in Europe – this mum recently shared three tips she’s taking from French parents.
